SERGEY KUZNETSOV: VENICE COMMISSION TO TAKE FINAL DECISION ON SITUATION IN AZERBAIJAN IN OCTOBER

The Venice Commission (VC) of the Council of Europe (CE) will take a final decision on the situation in Azerbaijan in the current October, the VC official of the elections and referendums department, Sergey Kuznetsov made such a statement in his exclusive interview to Trend.

Kuznetsov noted, that the commissionвЂ™s preliminary conclusion on the issue had been made public as far as in the current June, however for taking a final decision the VC experts must analyze comprehensively the Meilli Mejlis decision on amendments in the countryвЂ™s Election Code.

According to the VC official, the text of the decision will be put to the disposal of the Azerbaijani authorities prior to making a final decision at the Commission.

Kuznetsov focused the attention also to the fact that the draft Election Code, passed by the Milli Mejlis has not been officially submitted to the Venice Commission for consideration so far. В"Nevertheless, the CE Parliamentary Assembly is informed of the adopted decision of the Azerbaijani ParliamentвЂќ, he said.

Kuznetsov has also noted, that вЂњthe Venice Commission possesses no information on the introducing any new changes to the AzerbaijanвЂ™s Election Code, as the Milli Mejlis summer session has already completed its workвЂќ.

Sergey Kuznetsov has underlined once more, that the Venice Commission does not make any decisions on sanctions in regard of any state, being only the legal cooperation body.

В"All decisions may be taken by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) onlyвЂќ, the VC official noted, having reminded that in texts of resolutions on Azerbaijan, adopted during the PACE summer session, it has been clearly marked, that in case the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are not in line with the Council of Europe standards, the PACE may consider the issue of non-extension of the Azerbaijani delegation mandate.